Policy Review

An examination of recent policy and regulatory initiatives

• ACT Transport Strategy: Zero-emission mobility to gain momentum

  April 1, 2021
  The state government of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), through its transport strategy, plans to transform Canberra into a compact and vibrant urban area.

• Build Back Better: The new US government’s public transport policy to focus on climate change mitigation

  March 1, 2021
  After his inauguration, one of the first things that President Joe Biden did was to have the United States rejoin the Paris Agreement on climate change mitigation, adaptation, and finance.

• Green Mobility: Achieving carbon neutrality through transport in the Middle East by 2030

  February 1, 2021
  The countries in the Middle East are making concrete efforts to introduce policies to promote sustainable transport.

• The European Commission’s Sustainable and Smart Mobility strategy: Targets for and impact on the mass transit segment

  January 1, 2021
  On 9 December 2020, the European Commission announced its Sustainable and Smart Mobility strategy, with steps to transform the transport system in line with the targets and goals set under the European Green Deal and the European Union’s (EU’s) digital strategy.

• USHSR Five-point Stimulus Plan: Accelerating HSR development in US

  December 1, 2020
  In November 2020, the US High Speed Rail Association (USHSR) recommended a five-point stimulus plan to encourage the development of high-speed networks across the country.

• European Green Deal: Targets for and impact on the mobility segment

  November 1, 2020
  In December 2019, the European Union (EU) signed the European Green Deal, a policy roadmap for the EU’s climate agenda that focuses on creating a comprehensive pathway for the continent to reduce its carbon emissions.

• Autonomous Bus Trials in Europe: FABULOS project

  October 1, 2020
  Europe is paving the way for deployment of autonomous technology in public transportation.

• TEN-T Programme: Project delays and funding challenges

  September 1, 2020
  The Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) policy addresses the implementation and development of a Europe-wide network of railway lines, roads, inland waterways, maritime shipping routes, ports, airports, and railroad terminals.

• Investment in Public Transport: A stimulus for economic recovery in the post-COVID-19 period

  August 1, 2020
  Governments across the world are advancing emergency aid and stimulus packages in response to the current health and economic crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Recovery of public transport from the effects of COVID-19: Using AI for optimising operations while ensuring safety

  July 1, 2020
  Public transport is beginning to regainmomentum and resume operations as cities transition towards the new normal.

• 5G for Mass Transit: Towards digitalised railways in Europe

  June 1, 2020
  Across Europe, there is increasing emphasis on developing and implementing fully digitalised railways that will be based on state-of-the-art radio communication systems and will operate in an ecosystem where intelligent rolling stock will be able to continuously exchange data with responsive traffic management systems to optimise capacity in real time.

• Reopening Transit Systems: Post-COVID-19 pandemic measures and strategies for resuming operations

  May 1, 2020
  Efficient, reliable, cost-effective, and flexible mass transit is critical inenabling the movement of both essential goods and people during an emergency—like the current Covid-19 pandemic—as well as in supporting cities to regain control of the situation quickly.

• The CARES Act, 2020, US: Funding of USD25 billion for transit agencies to respond to COVID-19

  April 1, 2020
  On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted into law.

• National Transport Strategy, Scotland: Spotlight on new fuels, electrification and predictive maintenance

  March 1, 2020
  In February 2020, Scotland unveiled its 20-year National Transport Strategy.

• Italy’s National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Mobility: EUR3.7 billion investment planned in the next 15 years

  February 1, 2020
  In April 2019, Italy’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport adopted the National Strategic Plan for sustainable mobility.

• Penang Transport Master Plan, Malaysia: Opportunities in public transport development in 2020

  January 1, 2020
  The state government of Penang has drafted the Penang Transport Master Plan, a blueprint to develop a modern, integrated public transport system in the state.

• MiMovilidad: Improving bus and light rail services in Guadalajara, Mexico

  December 1, 2019
  The state government of Jalisco in Mexico has launched the MiMovilidad plan to create a safe, integrated public transport system in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area.

• Taking the Lead: Lisbon introduces sustainable transport strategies and initiatives

  November 1, 2019
  Lisbon, winner of the European Green Capital Award, 2020, is emerging as a leader in the adoption and implementation of sustainable mobility initiatives.

• Next step: Portugal’s national investment plan for 2021-2030

  October 1, 2019
  The urban population in Portugal is expected to increase from around 65 per cent in 2018 to 80 per cent in 2050.

• Emission-free Public Transport Initiatives in Oslo and Akershus: Transitioning to a greener fleet

  September 1, 2019
  The transport sector accounts for nearly 65 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions in Oslo, of which public transport accounts for 4 per cent. Despite public transport’s small share of total emissions, transitioning to a zero-emission network is expected to have a significant effect on the overall air quality of the city, especially in the densely populated regions.